Kentridge High School senior Charles Shaffer, cross country, is the Kent Reporter Athlete of the Week for Sept. 8.
Q: What is your favorite subject/class in school?
A: My favorite subject in school is math! I want to pursue something math-related in college like accounting or data analysis.
Q: Name your Mount Rushmore (Top 4) favorite movies:
A: “Cars 2,” “The Intouchables,” “Kingsman: Secret Service,” “Burnt”
Q: Who is the person in your life that has helped you succeed the most?
A: I don’t think I could possibly decide on one person who’s helped me the most, so I’ll choose a few. My mom and dad have been so supportive of me my whole life. I’ve always been encouraged to practice kindness, be a leader, and pursue what I love. I see parts of them in myself every day, and I’m very grateful for the opportunities that they have provided me. Another person who has helped me succeed is my stepmom. She always brings 110% energy and makes me feel appreciated and seen. There’s never a dull moment with her around. The final person is my stepdad. He’s so outgoing and he makes connections with people everywhere we go. I aspire to connect to people as effortlessly as he does. He’s a natural entrepreneur and his work ethic is unmatched. So, to answer the question, I attribute any success that I achieve to the wonderful group of parents who always have my back.
Q: You’re on a long road trip, you stop at a gas station. You get one drink and one snack. What are you choosing?
A: I would choose chocolate milk and a Milky Way bar. I have a huge sweet-tooth and chocolate is my weakness.
Q: Describe your pre-game ritual.
A: My pre-game ritual is pretty simple. I take the bus from Kentridge to the meet with my teammates and we either blast music and have a party or pop headphones in and relax. It all depends on the energy levels. When we get to the meet, we walk the course. This is a crucial step to making sure we don’t get lost during the race. As my race time approaches, I jog for a few minutes with my team to get our heart rates up. Next, we stretch as a group and then break off for whatever other preparations we need. I always try to eat three fruit punch flavored Jelly Belly Sports Beans about half an hour before my race as a little ritual. After I’ve put my spikes on, it’s time to lay down on the ground and rest.
Q: Song you currently can’t stop listening to?
A: “Stop this Train,” John Mayer
From the Sidelines: Charlie has done a wonderful job as captain and leader of our team. He is constantly supporting all of his teammates. He has worked extremely hard over these last two weeks and is looking primed for a great season.
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